Engine oil reconditioner



Filed Dec. 4. 1967 l.. RoslNsoN ET AL 3,473,629 ENGINE OIL. RECONDITIONER 2 sheets-shea 1 /N VEA/Tof? LUTHER ROBINSON EDGAR G. ROLAND H/S ATTORNEYS c. 21, 1969 RQBlNsON ET AL ENGINE OIL RECONDITIONER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 4. 1967 /A/l/f/VTORv LUTHER ROBINSON EDGAR G. ROLAND H/S A7 TORNE YS 3,473,629 ENGINE OIL RECONDI'I'IONER Luther Robinson, 509 Bellair Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15226, and Edgar G. Roland, Box 383, Grand Ave., Mars, Pa. 16046 Continuation-impart of applications, Ser. No. 380,871, July 7, 1964, and Ser. No. 492,018, Oct. 1, 1965. This application Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,904

Int. Cl. Flxn 1/10; F16n 7/30; C10g 13/00 `U.S. CI. 184-6 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrically heated device for reconditioning engine oil has an inclined flow plate on an upper portion of which contaminated oil is introduced through a metering valve. The oil thus introduced is formed into a thin film and flowed downwardly into a collectingr area while being subjected to heat and catalytic treatment. Volatilized vapors are collected and removed from a top portion of the device and reconditioned oil is removed from the collecting area at which pressure is equalized and from which the reconditioned oil is returned to the engine. Contaminating vapors are introduced with fuel and air into the combustion chamber of the engine.

This application deals with an improved device of the general type disclosed in our co-pending applications No. 380,871 of July 7, 1964 entitled Engine Gil Conditioner, now Patent No. 3,356,182, and No. 492,018 of Oct. 1, 1965 of the same title, now Patent No. 3,392,803. Thus, the benefit of the filing date of any common disclosed subject matter of these applications is claimed.

The present invention has been devised to provide an improved oil reconditioning device whose operating temperature may be easily set for a particular type of engine utilization and that is also exible from the standpoint of its adaptability for utilization with different available ignition voltage systems that may be encountered. There has been a need for an improved device having increased flexibility in this connection and lfor one in which entering fiow of oil thereto may be accurately metered and readily adjusted by means that is easily accessible for cleaning. The device of the present application has been developed and constructed to meet various needs in this connection, including the need for selecting the operating temperature and for easy replacement of its heating element or unit.

It has thus been an object of the invention to devise a new and improved oil reconditioning device which is practical and foolproof in operation and which is readily adaptable to meet various requirements of an engine installation.

Another object of the invention has been to develop an oil reconditioning device which will substantially eliminate difficulties heretofore encountered from the standpoint of clogging of its oil feed inlet due to sludge, etc. and which will provide for highly effective metering of the contaminated oil being introduced.

A further object of the invention has been to devise an oil reconditioner that is simplified in its construction and operation and whose parts may be readily adjusted and replaced. A still further object of the invention has been to provide a more efficient, practical and adaptable oil reconditioning device.

These and other objects will appear to those skilled 1n the art from the description of the illustrated embodiment and the claims.

`In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a front view in elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, showing a transparent front face plate partially broken nited States Patent O "ice away to better illustrate parts or elements within its enclosed chamber; this View is taken along the line 1-1 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 2 is a side view in elevation on the same scale as and taken from the right hand side of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged vertical fragment, partially in section, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmental horizontal section on the scale of and taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a back view in elevation of the device on the scale of FIGURES l and 2 and taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a side section in elevation on the scale of and taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a side view in elevation on the scale of and of the device of FIGURES l, 2, 5 and 6, showing it in an operating position.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of a suitable electric heating circuit or system for the device.

And, FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmental front view in elevation and partial section, illustrating means for mounting the device.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, an oil reconditioning device or unit `10 is provided that is preferably constructed of a `suitable conductive material, such as of metal, or, as an optimum, of cast aluminum, that not only facilitates heat transfer, but also enables the negative lead of an electric heating unit of the device to be provided by a ground connection. However, it is essential that a back wall flow plate or member on which contaminated oil is to be conditioned, at least be of a conductive metal material. For optimum results, the front fiow face or surface of this plate should be smooth and have reflective qualities.

The device 10 is shown of rectangular shape and as having a housing or casing 11 that is open at its front and provided with side walls and a back wall plate or member 12 whose inner surface serves as oil flow face or plate. The housing or casing 11 defines an enclosed chamber with a transparent front face plate member `15. This chamber is divided by a downwardly-curved, cross-extending bafiie or partition member 18 into two compartments, namely an intermediate or main, oil conidtioning or treatment compartment A, and an upper Vacuum or negative pressure, vapor collecting chamber B. The bafile 18 (see FIGURES l, 3, 4 and 6) extends from the back wall 12 into abutment with face plate 15, and terminates at its ends in a spaced relation with respect to sides of the casing I11. A bottom, cross-extending side wall of the casing 11 defines a bottom, oil collecting compartment that is fully open to the compartment A to provide a collecting and pressure equalizing compartment. Fully reconditioned oil is collected in the bottom compartment and returned under atmospheric pressure to the crankcase of the engine. The casing 11, as shown particularly in FIGURES 1 and 6, has a planar front rim or framing edge 13. Upper and lower portions of the rim or framing edge 13 are provided with threaded openings 13a therein to receive cap screw 16a for removably-mounting a front frame part 16 thereon. As shown particularly in FIGURES 2 and 6, transparent face plate 15 is held in position over or upon the front rim edge 13 by the frame 16. The face plate 15 may be of glass or of a suitable transparent resin or mica and, with its mounting rim or frame '16, closes off the casing 11 from the front of the device. The mounting of the face plate 15 is made resilient by means of an annular O-ring 17 (see FIGURE 6) of rubber or resin material that is carried within a groove within the rim edge 13 and by means of a relatively thin layer of gasket material 17a.

The device 10, as shown particularly in FIGURES l, 5

and 7, may be mounted on any suitable part of a vehicle, such 'as on a cylinder head 20 of the engine by means of a pair of upwardly-projecting bracket arms 21 and a pair of threaded studs or stems 22 extending from opposite side mounts 23. Each bracket arm 21 is shown as having a bottom foot portion 21a through which a mounting bolt 22 extends, and an angle-shaped wing portion 2lb that has an elongated, closed slot 21e therein to adjustably-receive an associated threaded pin, stud or stem 22 that projects from the side mount 23 as an integral part of the housing 11. A pair of clamping bolts 24 engage opposite sides of each wing portion 2lb to clamp the device 10 in a suitable angular relation with respect to the horizontal, representing an operating range of about 40 to 75, with an optimum of about 45. Where it is desired to minimize engine vibration or shock from the standpoint of the device 10, a connecting or mounting assembly such as shown in FIGURE 9 may be utilized. In this connection, a pair of fiat, pressure washers 25 are provided on the stem 22 to abut opposite ends of a resilient or rubber-like grommet 26.

In operation, oil from an engine crankcase is introduced under positive pressure, below the bafile 18, into the treating compartment A of the device by connector tubing 29 and an internally-threaded inlet fitting 3). The inlet fitting 30 projects through and inwardly and outwardly beyond the wall member 12. As illustrated particularly in FIGURE 3, inlet fitting 30 has an outer, enlarged, threaded bore portion 30a to mount a threaded end of the tubing 29 therein and also has a reduced inwardly-extending threaded bore portion 30b to receive an adjustable, externally-threaded metering valve stern or pin 31. The metering valve stem 31 has a sleeve-like outer end portion as defined by an open-end bore 31a. As shown particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, a pair of opposite, horizontally-extending side inlet ports 31h extend through the sleeve portion to introduce oil into the treating chamber A from bore portion 30b and bore 31a. An annular, upwardly-diverging or somewhat delta-shaped groove portion 33b is formed between the iitting portion 33 and the valve stem 31 to cooperate with and receive oil from the ports 31h. The valve stern 31, at its upper or front end, has a slotted portion for receiving a screw driver, in order that it may be turned or adjusted within the bore 30b to provide a desired flow through the ports 31b. Nut 31d is employed to retain the stem 31 in a desired adjusted position.

A sleeve-like, enclosing or cover element 32 is positioned over the valve stem 31 between a front raised fitting portion or mount 33 and face plate 15 and has a downwardly-diverging end portion or skirt 32a that denes a control chamber C into which contaminated oil is introduced by the ports 3117. A resilient, annular, sleeve-like or cylindrical gasket 34 (see FIGURE 3) is adapted to sealot the spacing between the upper, forward, non-diverging or cylindrical portion of the enclosing sleeve 32 to prevent oil from contaminating the under face of the transparent face plate 15. Inside or front extending fitting ledge portion 33, as shown particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, is provided with a group of spaced-apart, adjacent, outwardly-flared, flow nozzle or groove portions 33a which extend from the groove portion 33b, radially beyond the flared end portion 32a of the sleeve 32 at a level above front ow face of the back wall plate 12 for introducing the contaminated oil in the form of a group or plurality of streams forwardly of bafiie 18 and backwardly of an element 35 for distribution on and transversely along the front flow face of the back plate or wall member 12. The metering valve stem 31 is adjusted to provide an entering ow of contaminated oil that assures the requisite quantity for flow only as a thin film downwardly on plate 12.

Cross-extending element or cathode bar 35 of a suitable acid breakdown promoting or catalyst metal, such as magnesium, is shown of angular shape and as securely- CII positioned on the back plate or wall 12 by means of a cap screw 36 extending centrally therethrough into the plate or back wall member 12, and by a pair of side-positioned peg-like elements 37 that are also screw-threaded into the wall member 12 (see FIGURE 6). As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 1 and 6, the cross bar element 35 is of angle-shape, with its apex positioned substantially centrally of the device 10, below and adjacent the metering valve assembly, and in a spaced relation below the batlie 18. IUnlike the baffle 18, the ends of the element 35 ertend substantially into abutment with opposite vertical sides of the side wall of the casing 11. As shown particularly in FIGURE 3, the element 35 is adapted to rest in abutment on the forward face of the flow plate or back Wall member 12 and, through the agency of its threaded length, to define a plurality of minute oil fiow openings or passageways with the ow face of the plate 12. The upper convex curvature of the bar element 35 and the directional ow of contaminated oil from the metering valve assembly thereabove will, in accordance with the invention, continuously supply a quantity of oil that will be conditioned fully by its ow underneath the element 35 and downwardly along the full transverse width of the inner face of the heated plate or back wall member 12.

The flow of oil through the spacing between the cathode bar or element 35 and the plate 12 not only provides an intimate contact of the oil with the catalytic metal of the element but also reduces the oil down to a very thin, almost microscopic flow tilm to provide a maximum and completely effective driving-oli of contaminating volatiles, a reaction breakdown of contaminating chemicals, such as acids, and a full downl'low oil coverage of the `tlow face of the plate or back wall member 12. Since the plate or wall member 12 is heated substantially along its full oil treating extent to a proper contaminant volatilizing temperature, this assures the breakdown of the acid content and the full volatilization of the contaminants which have a vaporizing temperature below that of lubricating oil. Thus, moisture, condensates, gasoline, acid oxides. etc., carried by the oil from the crankcase will be volatilized by the downflow of the oil as a film and, as volatilized. will rise upwardly, liow past end spaces of the batiie 18, and enter the collecting compartment B behind the barile 18. Such vapor contaminants are then carried ofi, as by a flexible pipe or tubing member 38 to, for example, the air intake line of the engine carburetor. The vapors are thus introduced with air and fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine. The moisture and the gasoline content are utilized to improve engine performance and conserve fuel, while such gases as sulfur dioxide and other reaction products serve to clean the carburetor and the cylinder walls and to minimize air pollutant discharge from the eaust pipe of the engine.

The oil, on reaching the bottom compartment of the device 10, is fully reconditioned for return to the engine crankcase, as by an endwise, side connected, ilexible metal tube 4t). The tube 40 may be connected by a compression sealing nut fitting 41 to one of a pair of opposite, side outlet tittings 42 that extend from opposite sides of transverse ends of the bottom compartment of the casing or housing 11. Two outlet fittings 42 are provided to facilitate a connection for different types of engines, When one fitting is being used, the other will be closed by a suitable plug, such as 43, see FIGURE 5 of the drawings. FIG- URE 1 shows the tube 40 connected to a left hand fitting 41 and FIGURE 5 shows it connected to a right hand fitting. The tubing 40 may be connected at its other end to a conventional oil filler tube for the engine which, or' course, is open to the atmosphere and thus, to atmospheric pressure. The open construction of the bottom oil collecting compartment along its full upper extent with the treatment compartment A, along with the connection 4i) which is under atmospheric pressure and the location of oil inlet 30, provide pressure equalization in the compartment A. without a pair of special, inwardly-extending, tube elements, such as disclosed in the embodiments of our previously mentioned co-pending applications. Pressure equalization in the treating compartment A assures that oil cannot be drawn up into the vapor compartment B and into the engine vacuum line as, for example, under excessive negative pressure applied through vacuum line tubing 38.

A replaceable electric heating element assembly or unit 50 is separately formed and secured in place on the back of the back plate or wall 12 by cap screws 51, see FIG- URES 2, 5 and 6. |The heating unit 50 may, as shown in FIGURE 6, be provided with a suitable heating, electrical resistance coil or element 52 having 6, l2 and 24 volt tabs or taps. The resistance coil 52 may be electrically-connected at one end S9 to the negative potential of the vehicle battery through the ground and, at its other end, to the positive terminal of the battery by tap connecting line 53, through a thermostat 54 and line 56. Line 56 has a terminal 57 (see FIGURE 7) that is insulated from the casing of 50 (if of metal) and is connected through a lead 58 to a positive terminal of the engine battery.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the thermostat 54 has an adjustment screw or dial 55, so that it may be turned, as by a screw driver, to different temperature settings. For example, when turned to the left, in alignment with G, it is set for a temperature of about 250 to 300 F. that is suitable for reconditioning oil in a gas or gasoline er1- gine. When turned in alignment with D, it will provide a temperature of about 450 to 500 F. that is suitable for reconditioning oil of a diesel engine.

Employing the metering valve, maximum iiow will be accomplished when the transverse or cross-extending side ports 31h (see FIGURE 3) are moved to a position substantially fully in alignment with the radial out-iiow nozzle groove or slot portions 33a. The further backwardly or downwardly the valve stern 31 is adjusted, the more restricted will be the flow through the side ports 31b and the greater divergence of initial flow from the ports into nozzle groove portions 33a. In other words, as the ports 31b are moved more downwardly or backwardly with respect to delta or Y-shaped, surrounding annular groove 33h (See FIGURES 3 and 4), the more indirect the flow of oil, the more restricted the ow from the ports 31b with respect to the orilice grooves 33a, and the more tendency for the flow to iirst move upwardly within the chamber C before moving outwardly through the orice grooves 33a.

Rough adjustment of the metering valve may be accomplished before the device 10 is mounted and operativelyconnected to the engine, while the final adjustment may be made by the installation mechanic viewing the iiow of oil through the transparent front face plate 15. Final adjustment is made in order that the oil quantity is only suflicient to provide a uniform downiiowing thin-film on the face of the back plate or ow wall member 12, without any observable backing-up of the oil along the upper side of the cross-extending bar element 3S. The employment of ports 31b in combination with surrounding groove 335 and radial outflow grooves 33a, provides agitation of the oil as it is being preliminarily heated up through the wall or plate member 12 and tends to impart a slight volume expansion Within the chamber C before it is introduced into the enclosed treating chamber.

In earlier devices, using an outwardly-positioned or separate collecting chamber for the treated oil, we provided pressure equalizing tubes that were connected between the treatment chamber. As previously indicated, it has now been discovered that such means can be eliminated by using a direct, upper, back-positioned, inlet 30 for the contaminated oil and by directly utilizing an open bottom extent of the treatment or conditioning compartment A as an oil collecting chamber compartment and from which oil may flow by gravity, in an atmospheric pressure environment, through one of the end iittings 41, continuously back to the crankcase of the engine.

In recent years, steps have been taken to minimize exhaust pollution by internal combustion engines. In this connection, Chrysler uses a so-called CAP system having a modilied carburetor, a slightly altered distributor and a sensing valve that controls spark adjustment during deceleration The other U.S. automobile manufacturers employ an engine operated supply pump that injects air to the exhaust ports of the combustion chamber for further burning of the hydrocarbons after the power stroke of the pistons. It has been determined that a device of the present invention, in addition to greatly increasing oil economy, decreasing Wear and tear on the engine and irnproving the operation of an ordinary iilter such that it can now function to take out Solids without being clogged by sludge, will also provide beneficial results when used from the standpoint of minimizing atmospheric contamination. In this connection, the device may be used with any of the systems now developed or required to be used with automotive engines.

The device also maintains lubricating qualities of engine crankcase oil at a high level and provides a more eicient transfer of heat from the engine parts to the water or air jacketing. It also provides a continuous removal and utilization of crankcase contaminants, so as to improve the operation of the engine and maintain fuel economy and keep the cylinders and valves in a cleaned condition. It has been determined that the introduction of vapors from the device into the carburetor provides a more complete combustion and minimizes hydrocarbon wastage into the exhaust.

Although for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, an illustrated embodiment has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, substitutions and additions may be made in practicing the invention without departing from its spirit and scope.

What we claim is:

1. An improved oil reconditioning device for an internal combustion engine which comprises, a housing having a heat conductive back wall member and a front face plate member and a side wall positioning said members in a spaced relation with each other and defining an enclosed chamber, a heating unit positioned in a heat transferring relation with a back face of said back wall member, said back wall member having a downwardly-sloped oil treating front face within the chamber, a baie across an upper portion of the chamber on said front face to provide an upper vacuum compartment and a lower oil treatment compartment, a cross-extending element within the oil treatment compartment in a spaced relation below said batiie and mounted on said front face of said back wall member, said element having means dening a plurality of oil flow passageways with said front face and promoting a breakdown of contaminating acids in the oil being treated, an oil inlet for introducing contaminated oil into the treatment compartment above said element and below said battle, a vapor outlet for removing vaporized contaminants from the vacuum compartment, a metering valve in said oil inlet, an oil collecting area along the bottom of said housing substantially fully open to the oil treating compartment, and an oil outlet connected to an end of the collecting area for equalizing pressure in the treatment compartment and for returning reconditioned oil from the collecting area to the engine.

2. An oil reconditioning device as deiined in claim 1 wherein said oil collecting area is defined by a bottom portion of the side Wall extending along the full width extent of said enclosed chamber.

3. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 2 wherein said housing is of rectangular shape and provides a rectangular enclosed chamber.

4. An oil reconditioning device as deiined in claim 1 wherein said oil inlet extends through said back wall member above said cross-extending element and below said baille.

5. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein, said oil inlet extends through said back wall member above said heating unit, and said metering valve has means for adjusting the flow of oil from said inlet into the treatment compartment.

6. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said oil inlet and said metering valve comprise: an inlet fitting having an open-end inlet bore, a valve stem adjustably-positioned to extend within a forward end of said inlet bore and having a bore open from a back end thereof to said inlet bore, transverse port means through said stem into its said bo-re for delivering oil therefrom into the treatment compartment, and means for adjusting the effective size of said port means for controlling the fiow of oil from said inlet fitting into the treating conipartment.

7. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 6 wherein orifice means cooperates with said port means for directing oil from said port means in a spread relation on said front face towards said cross-extending element.

8. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 7 wherein, an annular groove portion extends in a radiallyspaced relation about said valve stem to receive oil from said port means, and said orifice means extends radiallyoutwardly from said annular groove portion.

9. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 7 wherein, said inlet fitting has an annular delta-shaped groove portion about an inner end of its said threaded bore cooperating in an oil flow receiving relation with respect to said port means, a sleeve element is positioned over said valve stem and has a spaced relation therewith adjacent said :annular groove portion to define an expansion chamber open to said annular groove portion, and said orifice means comprises a group of nozzle groove portions extending radially from said annular groove portion towards said cro-ss-extending element.

19. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 6 wherein said valve stem projects through said face plate member and has forwardly-extending means operable from outside said face plate member for adjusting the effective opening size of said port means.

11. An o-il reconditioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said heating unit has an electric heating element and is removably-secured on said housing for ready replacement.

12. An improved oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 11 wherein said heating unit has a thermostat provided with a control element extending to an outer operating position and cooperating with said back plate member to indicate at least two temperature settings for the electric heating element.

13. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 12 wherein said electric heating element has taps for co-nnection with 6, l2 and 24 voltage electric systems.

14. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein, a pair of threaded studs extend from opposite sides of said housing, a pair of mounting brackets are provided, each mounting bracket has a foot portion for bolting it on an engine head and has an angle-shaped upper support arm provided with an enclosed slot portion, said enclosed slot portion is adapted to be adjustablypositioned on an associated one of said threaded studs, and bolt and nut means is adapted to secure each said support arm in an adjusted relation on an associated threaded stud.

15. An oil reconditioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein, said cross-extending element is of angle-shape and is provided with threading therealong, means is provided for mounting said cross-extending element on said front face of said back wall member with its apex located substantially centrally of the treating chamber and in vertical alignment below said metering valve, and said front face of said back wall member is of smooth metal construction having a reiiective surface over which the oil being treated fio-ws downwardly in the form of a thin film.

16. An improved oil reconditioning device for reconditioning crankcase oil of an internal combustion engine to volatilize-ofi contaminants and to break down acids and volatilize them off which comprises, a housing having a back wall member, an enciosing side wall, and i transparent front face plate member defining an enclosed chamber; a downwardly-curved cross-extending batiie positioned in abutment between said face plate and said back wall members and extending transversely across Said back wall to terminate in a spaced relation adjacent opposite portions of said side wall, said bafiie defining a vapor-receiving compartment thereabove and an oil treating compartment therebelow, an oil inlet fitting in said back wall and open therethrough beneath said bafiie. a metering valve operatively-positioned in said inlet fitting for adjusting the fiow of contaminated oil being introduced into the enclosed chamber, said metering valve having an adjustable stem extending forwardly through said face plate member, a cathode bar of angular-shape secured on said back wall member in a backWardly-spaceo relation with respect to said face plate member and defining a plurality of oil flow passageways with said back wall member, means for operatively-positioning the device with said back wall member in a forwardly-downwardly sloped relation for flow of oil being treated on a front face thereof, a vacuum inlet to said vapor-receiving compartment for withdrawing vapors therefrom. heating means cooperating with a back face of said back Wall member for supplying oil-conditioning heat thereto substantially along its full downward extent, means securing said cathode bar on said back Wall member to receive contaminated oil introduced through said metering valve and distribute it in the form of a thin down-flowing7 film along the full transverse extent of and on the front face of said back Wall member, a collecting compartment along the bottom of the enclosed chamber and substantially fully open upwardly to said conditioning compartment for receiving treated oil from the front face of said back wall member, and at least one outlet extending through said housing and open to said collecting compartment for equalizing pressure in said treating compartment and for returning treated oil to a crankcase of the engine.

17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said cathode bar is positioned on the front face of said back wall member with a pair of oppositely extending portions declining downwardly from a central location towards opposite sides of said back wall member, means is threadably-mounted on said back wall member for removably securing said cathode bar thereon, and said oil inlet fitting and metering valve comprise: an inlet fitting portion that projects inwardly beyond the front face of said back wall member, said fitting portion having a central threaded bore therethrough and an annular angularshaped groove about said =bore and open into the treatment chamber, an externally threaded valve stern provided With a sleeve-like end portion open to and adjustably mounted within the threaded bore of said fitting portion, a pair of oil out-flow ports extending through said sleeve-like end portion for delivering contaminated oil from the bore of the fitting portion to said annular groove, and a group of radially-outwardly extending and diverging groove-like orifices connected to said annular groove for delivering contaminated oil from said annular groove along an upper side of said cathode bar.

18. A method of continuously reconditioning lubricating oil that is contaminated by usage in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber energized by fuel and air and of utilizing volatiles driven off during the conditioning of the oil during the operation of the engine which comprises: providing an enclosed chamber and dividing it into an upper vapor collecting compartment, an intermediate oil treating cornpartment, and a bottom reconditioned oil collecting compartment; providing a forwardly-downwardly sloped plate member as a back wall for the enclosed chamber, continuously withdrawing contaminated oil from the engine and introducing it under positive pressure to the upper end of the treating compartment below the Vapor collecting compartment, metering the contaminated oil at its point of entry and spreading it as a thin lm on the plate member, owing the oil film downwardly on and imparting conditioning heat thereto through the plate member, employing a catalyst and heat from the plate member to break down contaminating acid content of and to vaporize-oi contaminants from the oil within the treating compartment during its downward ow on the plate member; collecting vaporized contaminants within the vapor collecting compartment, drawing them olf and introducing them with fuel and air into the combustion chamber of the engine; and returning reconditioned oil from the collecting compartment under atmospheric pressure to the crankcase of the engine, and through the agency of the collecting compartment and such flow maintaining a substantial pressure equilibrium within the treating compartment.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,909,284 10/1959 Watkins 208-179 X FOREIGN PATENTS HALL C. COE, Primary Examiner 

